Wrench.



J. Ell EL.

WRENCH.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 26,1912.

Paterited May 2, 1916.

s SHEETS-SHEET I J. EIFEL.

WRENCH.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 26, I912.

nnw 1 Q0 1 2 W M d B m e t a D1 3 SIIEETS-SHEET 2.

II Al I A I I l I I I I I V ll a 1. EIFEL.

WRENCH.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 26' 1912- Patented May 2,1916.

3 SHEETS-SHEE 3 ni eneaa is a specification.

.rosnrn Efren, or cmoneo, nunmors.

-W'RENCH.

To all whom it may concern 1 Be it known that I, J OSEPH EIF'EL, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Chicago, in the Stateof Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Wrenches, of which the following My present'invention relates to wrenches in general and more particularly to wrenches having variable jaw openings, and has special reference to the provision of an improved wrench embodying the most valuable features of. wrenches of a number of different types known to me, and avoiding the defects thereof. 1

The principal objects of my present invention are the provls'ion of a wrench having jaws one of which may be rapidly moved relatively to the other, a wrench thus characterized which will not tend to work open in handling, thus requiring repeated settings or adjustments during a. single operation, one which will have small crushing effect tending to abrade, flatten or otherwise disfigure articles upon which it is used; the provision of an improved plier form wrench adapted for wide separation of the jaws without concurrent wide opening of the handles and one wherein relatively slight manipulation is required-either in moving the article acted upon or in obtaining a fresh hold thereupon; the provisionof a wrench wherein the parallelism of the jawsmay be readily maintainedirrespective of the size of the object operated upon; the provision of a wrench wherein the number of contact. points of the-jaws thereof with.

the article operated upon may be mcreased and generally to provide an improved and more efficlent type. of wrench than is at this time available, together with such further and additional objects as may hereinafter provided the constructions illustrated inthe wherein,-'asshown, adjustable pliers having appear.

In gaming the objects above-mentioned, as well as certain further benefits and advantages tobe below pointed out,I' have accompanying drawings, wherein' Figure 1 is an elevatlonal view illustrative of my mvention BIl'lbOdlGd m awrench parallel jawsare provided. Fig. 2 is anedge view of the wrench of Fig. 1; Fig. 3

, '5 isiasectional-view taken on the line HIE-III ofFig. 1:; Fig. 3* is an elevational-view of a modified form QfjawEonStruction; Fig. V a,

Specification of Letters Patent.

" 4'is an elevational view illustrative of my invention embodied in a wrench wherem, as sh0wn, adjustable pliers having jaws whlch are variable not only in their degree of sep thewrench of Fig. 4, partly in section taken on-the line VV of Fig. 4; Figs. 6 and? Patented May 2, 19113.. 4 Application filed June 26, 1912. Serial No. 706,079. I

are elevational views of modified forms of jaws applicable to the wrenches of the types of Figs. 1. and 4; Figs. 8 and 9 are respectively an edge view and an elevational view illustrative of a modified form of construction; andfFigs. 10 and 11 are sectional views thereof, taken respectively on the line XX of Fig. 8 and XL XIof-Fig 10.

Referring now more particularly to the device of Figs. 1, 2 and 3 it will be observed that in this embodiment of my invention wherein I have shown a form of wrench,

which is adaptable for use as a parallel and adjustable plier, the shank'110 has formed at one end a handle lllarid at the opposite end a jaw 112 and that the jaw 112 is slotted as indicated at 113 to allow the shank 114 provided with a jaw 115 to slidably move therein and support the jaw 115 in parallelism with the jaw 112. The shank 114 of the jaw 115 is provided with a toothed rack 116 and for moving the said jaw 115 relatively to the jaw 112 I employ an operating lever 117 pivoted to the lever 110, as indicated at 118,"engaging slots 120 in said handle 110, and provided with a segmental gear 122 engaging" the rack- 116, which is supported by means of a pin 119 in slot 123.

'As an anti-friction device between the rack 116 and the shank 110 I employ a roller bearing indicated at 124. I For holding the parts in adjusted position, I employ a gage a complementary ratchet toothed rack 139 carried by-the handle 17, a spring 140 acting upon an extension 137 of the pawl serving for normally. 'holding the pawl and rack in engagen'ient, and a-slidin'g block" 138 having aninlined surface, being provided formoving the pawl out of engagement with the ratchet 139 when it is desired to move the handles apart.

In the operation of the device above described, it will be observedthatuponmovihg the. block 138 inward, the handles 111 and 117 may be separated, the handle 117 l r l moved sidewise and inward disengaging the segment 122 from the rack 116 thus permittingv the desired adjustment of the jaws 112' and 115. If an ordinary close fit is desired the handle may then be moved until the segment 122 engages the rack 116, when the handle may be locked. If, however, it be desired to strongly grip the bolt, pipe or other articletobe acted upon the handle 117 may be moved a short distance outward around the pivot 118 and then into a position where the segment 122 engages the rack 116 and then the handles 117 and 111 may be caused to approximate, moving the jaws 115 and 112 toward each other, though without disturbance of their parallelism. It will' thus be noted that a great variation of the opening of the jaws according to the size of the object acted upon may be attained in the use of the wrench above described, but at the same. time practically instantaneous adjustment both of the amount of the pressure and of the opening of the jaws may likewise be attained. without excessive separation of the operating handles.

Referring now more particularly to the device of Figs. 4 and 5' it-will be observed that I have here illustrated a wrench embodying my invention in the form of a pair of pliers, wherein the gripping faces of the is slidable,- relatively thereto by means of the slot 220 in which said pin 218 is movably carried.

For normally preventing movement of the jaw 212 relatively to the shank 210 I provide on the extensions 275 of said jaw 212 toothed segments276 which engage complev mentary toothed segments 277 on a lever 278 movable relatively to. the hollow handle 210, but normally held in the position shown by means of a spring 279, such lever 278 being'bifurcated and the bifurcated portions thereof being carried on the pin 218. For

holding the handles'211 and 217 in the relajawsmay be arranged in any required de-.

gree of arfgularity between parallelism and a right angle relatively to the longitudinal axis of the operating handles, and by suittive position shown I employ a pawl 237 pivoted at 238 in thehandle 217 and normally engaging the ratchet 239, such pawl being provided with an extension 237 against which the spring 240 acts in order to maintain the engagement with the ratchet, a sliding block 238 being employed to release the engagement when desired.

In the operation of the device above described it will be observed that moving the slide 238 disengages the pawl 237 from the.

ratchet 239 and allows the'handles 217 and 211 to be separated. Upon moving the handle' 217' inwardly, andpressing the lever 27 8' toward the handle 210, thereby disengaging the handles 217 and 210 from the pinion 222, and the jaws 212 respectively, the jaws 212 and-215 may be varied in the amount of theirseparation. Upon releasing pressure upon the lever 27 8the toothed portion 277 thereof will again engage with the toothed portion 276 of the jaw 212 fixing it that of the wrench of Figs. 1,2 and 3, save that instead of direct engagement between the segment and rack there disclosed, I here interpose'a gear wheel whereby certain angularities of adjustment are made possible, all as now to be described. It will be seen that in my present construction I employ a shank 210 provided at one end with a handle 211 and at the opposite end with-a jaw 212, pivoted thereto at 212 and slotted as indicated at 213' for the reception of the shank 214 which is provided with a jaw 215' and engages by means of a pin 219 a slot 223 in said jaw 212, a roller bearing 224 being interposed between the jaw 212 and the shank 214:.- On the pivot pin 212 is rotatably mounted a pinion having a toother periphery 222 engaging a rack 216 formed ,onthe shank 21 1, and likewise engaging a segmental rack 222 formed on the operating lever 217, which has pivotal engagement with the shank 210 as indicated at 218, and

in position relatively toisaid lever 210, and upon the lever 217'being moved to the position shown the toothed segment 222 thereof will engage the pinion 222 in turn acting upon the rack 216 and moving the jaw 215 toward the jaw 212.

Where desirable the device of Fig. 4 may be provided with jaws having cutters as indicated at 45 46 in Fig. 6, or with jaws curved or serrated, or both, as indicated at 4:7, 48 inFig. 7. v

Referring now more particularly to the device of Figs.8 to 11 it will be observed that I have here illustrated a wrench embodying my invention in another form of adjustable parallel pliers, wherein a'shank 310-has formed at one end a handle 311 and at the,

opposite end a jaw 312, and that the jaw 312 is slotted as indicated at 313 to allow the shank-314 provided with a jaw 315 to move therein and supportthe jaw 315 in parallelism with the jaw 312. The shank 314 is provided with toothed means for engagement with the shank of the. jaw 315, here shown as the link 3165, provided with ratchet teeth 316 engaging teeth 316 on the shank of the jaw 315, the said shank 314= engaging the said link 316" by means of a ball extension 322'engaging, a socket 322*, the

toothed engagement thus formed being similar in operation to that above described in "connection with the deviceof Fig. 1. For moving said jaw 315 relatively to the jaw 312 I employ an operating lever 317 formed on the shank 314 which is pivoted to the le- 'ver 310. as indicated at 318, and as an antifriction device between the jaws 312and 315 I employ a roller bearing indicated'at 3524.

For normally preventing movement of the jaw 315 relatively to the link 316, andthereby transverse lineal movement of such jawrelatively to the shank 314 and conse-' quently separation of the jaws312 and 315, I .employ a lever 378 pivoted. to the handle .310 as indicated at 380, and engaging by means of a pin 37 6 aslot 377 formed in the link 316 the shank 310 being slotted as indicated at 381 to permit movement ofsaid pin in the shank 310. For normally holding the lever 378 in position and thereby the link 316 in engagement with the toothed surface of the jaw 315, I employ .a slide 379 engaging a slot 37 9 and acting on one sur-,

face of the end of said lever 378, a spring 382 bearing on the opposite surface thereof serving to throw the toothed portions of the members 316 and 315g ut of engagement when said slide is mov g toward the jaws, thereby permitting adjustment of the jaw 315 relatively to the jaw312.

A To permit a partial movement of the le-" ver 378 suflicient merely to allow a. ratcheting of thetoothed portion of the member 315 upon the toothed portion of the member 316, a notch 383 'is'provided in the lever 37 8 allowing it to be partially rotated about the pivot point 380, thereby moving the link 316*. toward the end ofgthe .handles, but if 7 link toward said jaw.

entire. disengagement is desired the slide should be moved to theright so that-the boss 384 formed thereupon will approximate the position of the surface 385 of such lever. A spring-386 normally serves to aid in holding the link'316 in contact with the jaw 315 and a pin 387 passing through the slot? 377 serves tolimit the movement of said Erom the foregoing description of the construction and operation of the severalembodiments of my invention it will be observed that allof the several types. disclosed are provided with means whereby the jaws when adjacent to each other, and means for I 12o maybe instantly openedand closed to. a

" limited extent for shifting relativelyltothe -work, thereby making it feasible to utilize notches such as- 51 for the purpose of engaging the corners, as well as flat-faces of nuts, giving a much firmer hold there- I upon.. r It-will thus be observed that bythe use of the several embodiments of my invention illustrated I am able where it is desirable .to engage anut-on parallel faces, on' opposed corners, or on a corner opposed to a face,

. form of a wrench known to me.

with more holds and thus with firmer engagement than is possible with any other Since the pressure applied upon closing the wrench may be very readily varied, it is obvious that the pressure applied to any nut, pipe or other object worked upon may be gaged to suit conditions with the greatest of facility. Other advantages of' my present invention will be apparent to those who are skilled in the art to which it pertains.

Having thus described my invention and illustrated its use, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A device of the character described comprising, in combination, a pair of pivoted pperating levers provided with cooperating jaws, one of said jawsbeing movable transversely ofthe longitudinal axis of the device and relatively to its lever and having rack and gear means for releasable engagement therewith whereby the extent of the jaw opening may be varied.

2. A device of the character described comprising, in, combination, a pair of operating levers provided with cooperating jaws .and having means for engagement whereby opening may be varied, and means for normally preventing lineal relative movement 1 of levers.

,4. A device of the character described comprising, in combination, a pair ofv pivoted operating levers provided with co'ciperating jaws, means for adjusting the position of one ofsaid levers relative to its jaw, means between the levers and intermediate the ends of the levers for releasably locking said levers against relative movement releasing sai' locking means.

' 5. A device of the character described comprising, in combination, a pair of piv- 1 'oted "operating levers provided with. 0033perating aws, and means. for releasably lock; ing them in position including a pawl and ratchet between the levers and disposed between said leversintermediate their ends.

6. Amlevice of the character described comprising, in combination, apair of pivoted' operating levers'provided with 006p- 'erating jaws, means disposed between the comprising, in combination, a pair of pivoted operating levers provided with cooperating jaws, means disposed between the levers for releasably lockingthem in position including a ratchet on one of said le vers, and a spring pressed pawl pivoted to I the other of said levers and having an arm,

and means acting on said arm for tripping said pawl."

8. A device of the character described comprising, in combination, a pair of pivoted operating levers provided with cooperating jaws, means disposed between the levers for releasably locking them in position including a ratchet on one of said levers, and a pawl pivoted to the other of said levers and having an arm, and a slide .for tripping said pawl.

9. A device of the character described comprising in combinationa pair of piv-' oted operating levers provided with coiipcrating jaws, one of said jaws being operatively movable relatively toits lever and both'the lever and the jaw being provided with means for'engagement, an intermediate member engaging said means whereby the relative position of the jaws may bevaried, and means for normally holding-the jaws in predetermined operative relation relative to each other.

10. A device of the character described com-prising, in combination, a pair of operating levers provided with cooperating jaws, and having means for engagement whereby the levers are movable pivota'llyand lineally relatively to each other, one of said jaws beingmovable relatively to its lever and both'the lever and the jaw being provided with means for engagement, an intermediate member engaging said means whereby the relative position of the jaws maybe varied, and means for nor-I mally holding the jaws in'predetermined operative relation relative to each other..

11. A device of the character described comprising, in combinat on, a pair of oper- I ating levers provided with cooperating jaws, and having means for engagement whereby the levers are -movable pivotally and lineally relatively to each other, one ofsaid jaws being movable relatively, to its subscribed witnesses.

lever and both the lever-and the jawb'eing provided with. means for engagement, an

intermediate member engaging said means for engagement whereby the relative position of the jaws maybe varied, and means for normally holding the jaws predea termined operative relation relative to each other including engaging means for one of said jaws and a third 'leverprovided'with.

means forengag'ing said last mentioned means.

12. A device of the character described 1 comprising, in combination, a pair of operating levers provided with cooperating jaws, and having means for engagement whereby the levers are movable pivotally and lineally relatively to each other, one of said jaws being movable relatively to its lever and both the lever and the jaw being providedwith means for engagement, an, intermedlate member e'ngaglng said meansfor engagement whereby the, relative position of the-jaws may be'varied, and means for normally. holding the jaws'in predetermined operative 'relation relative to each other including engaging means on one of said jaws and athird lever provided-with engaging means engaging said last mentioned engaging means and aspring for maintaining such engagement.

13. A device of the character described compri'singin combination, a pair of pivoted levers provided with cooperating aws,

one of said jaws being movable relatively to the other'thereof and to its'lever and provided with a rack portion, and a gear for releasably engaging said rack portion whereby the'jaws may be held in predetermined operative relation relatively to' each other.

j 14. A. device of the character described comprising in combination, a pair of pivoted-levers provided withcooperating jaws,

one of said jaws. being movable relatively to the other thereof and to. its lever and transversely of the longitudinal axis of the device and provided with engaging teeth, and a plurality of teeth on said last-mentioned lever adapted to engage the teeth on said movable jaw whereby the jaws may be held in predetermined operative rela-.

tion relatively to each other. In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my name in the presence of the two JOSEPH EIFEL Witnesses: 1 MARTHA WESTMAN, PAUL CARPENTER. 

